Officials, neighbors grapple with fireworks complaints

Wednesday

Jul 9, 2014 at 7:04 AM

By Andrea.Goodell@HollandSentinel.com(616) 546-4275

The city of Zeeland is the latest Michigan municipality to enact its own fireworks restrictions.While there have been few problems in Zeeland, council members said Monday night that they wanted to head off complaints heard from residents in more dense neighborhoods, such as those in Holland.“We had fireworks since the last of April, every night, heading into Memorial Day and of course after that it hasn’t quit,” said Sally Anderson, who lives in Holland. “If it was just the Fourth of July, that would be one thing.”The fireworks scare her 88-year-old mother who lives with her, she said.“You don’t know when or where they’re coming from,” she said.The next day comes the mess, said Anderson who has found the spent cartridges of fireworks in her lawn several mornings this summer.Words that come up repeatedly with those concerned over the disturbance of fireworks are “nonstop” and “sulfur haze.” They say how difficult it is to tell where the fireworks are being shot off (otherwise, they would call the police). They tell stories of their pets, veterans and elderly parents terrified by the noise.“It never really bothered me before,” said Shannon Zimmer, of Park Township, “but my son returned from Afghanistan a year ago. … It really hits much closer to home.”Her son, who had to avoid action movies in the weeks after he returned stateside, has said he appreciates the Independence Day holiday, but not the unpredictable booms of neighborhood fireworks, Zimmer said.A 2011 state law lifted restrictions on many kinds of fireworks, hoping to bring in revenue that had been crossing state lines. Cities, townships and villages can establish their own rules restricting fireworks, but only between 8 a.m. and 1 a.m. the day before and day of a holiday and 8 a.m. and midnight the day after. Holland, Zeeland, Holland Township, Zeeland Township and Park Township have all adopted similar ordinances. Laketown Township does not have its own fireworks ordinance.Besides reinforcing the 30 days allowed each year by the state, Zeeland’s new rules institute fines from $100 to $500 for such violations as sales to minors and using fireworks while under the influence.Not quite 9,000 Michigan residents have signed a MoveOn.org petition asking for the repeal of the 2011 law that allowed aerial fireworks in the state.Elizabeth Clark, who lives on Park Township’s southside, wants the number of permitted holidays reduced, the especially loud fireworks outlawed and sellers required to post the laws so customers are more aware.Holland City Councilman Brian Burch said he and others are working on an education program and have been exploring whether the city has the authority to require retailers to post legal fireworks days.At Jake's Fireworks, if customers ask about restrictions, associates tell them when they can and cannot use their products."Be considerate of your neighbors," said Jake's Fireworks sales associate Vanessa Young. All neighbors aren't going to want boom, boom, boom at 3 o'clock in the morning."People walking out of fireworks retailers often have no clue about the restrictions, according to the Holland Department of Public Safety Police Division. In the two weeks before the holiday, the department issued more than 25 citations, but during July 3-5, officers issued warnings instead.“Officers noted,” said police Capt. Jack Dykstra, “that most of the people they encountered were not aware of the law related to when and where fireworks are allowed.”— Follow this reporter on Facebook and on Twitter, @SentinelAndrea.